Oil Cooler delete info/advice needed...

hey guys, i have already bought [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] a few weeks back... was taking the old radiator out today and the lower oil cooler line is seized, so it twisted. see the picture below. I was gonna replace the line with a Delco line from amazon for about $27. what is the benefit to deleting the lines altogether??? I live in Georgia... so i either buy the one line and replace or buy the oil filter adapter WITHOUT the lines and remove both. Question is, what do i do with the radiator? do i have to plug it?

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repair the line,. use a tubing cutter, and a union,. get someone to flare an end on a new piece of pipe,.use your old nut,.
nick

The only thing that runs through that part of the radiator is the oil. You could plug it, or leave it open to the elements. If you think you might use it again in the future I would plug it.

Me personally I would repair the line and keep the oil cooler.

Ditch the cooler and leave the radiator holes open. Mine has been this way for years.

If not, I have a good set of slightly used Dorman lines in the garage. 10 bucks plus shipping.

It's easy to get that fitting out, and just as easy to hook it back up again if you want to keep the cooler.

i knocked this project out easily. i found the replacement AC Delco cooler lines on amaozn for a total of $53. installed them in the new radiator and everything is great...

Good deal! Hey Udownwitk...you should start a build thread in the project section! I know you have a lot of plans (and work already done). Not everyone is on FaceBook here and I know they would love to watch/look at your pics!

I'm still planning on getting down there that first Sun in March.

Chris

is there an adapter for removing the cooler without the lines for the 94-96 wagons?  my cooler lines were cut and its patched together right now. I have heard there is but cant find it, as it seems specific for wagons.

Does anyone know of an aftermarket oil cooler that will bolt directly to the stock hoses for a 93 wagon?

Vdubluv74... there isn't anything that will work with the stock hoses like that... but you COULD take the 94-96 caprice cooler lines and run an new external cooler up in front of the radiator instead of going through the stock in-tank coolers. Just a thought.

In-tank coolers are good for all around driving but an external solution is better because if the cooler eventually fails... it won't be sucking radiator fluid into your oil lines and into your engine. I have seen this happen to people on both the trans and the oil in tank coolers. This is the primary reason they went to external coolers on the 94-96 LT1 cars. A bad cooler could ruin an engine or a trans pretty quickly!

So for the Lt1 cars if you were to remove the oil cooler, what's the block off piece

If you do decide to remove the oil cooler,you really need to make some modifications on the
alum. oil filter housing/base.You just cant crimp the lines and run.,you will starve the motor for oil! ed

Well my mechanic said that i would need to replace the cooler to get it the way it should be, since its being bypassed currently. Just wondering what the best option is.

piranah wrote:

Well my mechanic said that i would need to replace the cooler to get it the way it should be, since its being bypassed currently. Just wondering what the best option is.

So you are saying that you are running with the lines crimped and not running oil thru the cooler? ed

I believe so.

I cant say on the LO5 motor for sure,but the LT1 oil filter housing/base
on the LT1 really needs to be modified if you are going to plug up or
remove the oil cooler lines.There is a bypass system located in the alum.
oil filter housing if the lines or cooler gets clogged,but its just a temp thing,
you really need to remove the housing and modify it. ed

I ran in to an issue with my moms 93 roady wagon oil cooler filter adapter it was leaking from the oil cooler adapter between the block and the adapter it's self it was a small casting flaw.
What I did because she needed to use the car for a trip was use a oil filter adapter from a car that did'nt have an oil cooler this eliminated the oil cooler but also fixed the leak and no worrys about oil starvation.
I just left the original oil cooler lines in place just in case I wanted to put it back to original but I capped the ends of the oil cooler lines with rubber caps so that any residual oil would'nt drip allover the place
you can get the oil filter adapter from summit or jegs I got mine from our local engine rebuilder for 10 bucks
their fairly easy to come buy as there are plenty of small block chevys around
I did this repair two years ago[20,000miles] and she has not had any issues with oil pressure oil starvation or leaks